Singing helps women overcome postnatal depression, new research reveals.
New mothers who struggle with moderate-to-severe symptoms of the condition recover significantly faster if they sing in a group, a study found.
Although the study did not say why this likely occurs, previous research shows singing benefits depression sufferers by allowing them to express their emotions and aiding relaxation.
Lead researcher Dr Rosie Perkins from the Centre for Performance Science in London, said: ‘Postnatal depression is debilitating for mothers and their families, yet our research indicates that for some women something as accessible as singing with their baby could help to speed up recovery at one of the most vulnerable times of their lives.’
Postnatal depression affects more than one in 10 women within a year of giving birth in the UK.
How the research was carried out
The researchers analysed 134 mothers during the first 40 weeks of motherhood.
The women were divided to receive either 10 weeks of a singing workshop, a creative play workshop or postnatal depression standard-of-care.
In the singing workshops, the study’s participants listened to, and learned, new songs, as well as creating songs about motherhood.
‘Singing could speed up recovery’
Results also found no difference in the recovery of women who take part in creative play workshops or receive standard-of-care.
Dr Perkins said: ‘Postnatal depression is debilitating for mothers and their families, yet our research indicates that for some women something as accessible as singing with their baby could help to speed up recovery at one of the most vulnerable times of their lives.’
The chairwoman of the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Perinatal Faculty, Dr Trudi Seneviratne, welcomed the ‘exciting’ findings.
The findings were published in the British Journal of Psychiatry.
